Abstract: Protection system hidden failures have been identified as one of the main causes of system cascading collapse resulting to power system instability. In this paper, a systematic approach is presented in order to identify the probability of a system cascading collapse by taking into consideration the effect of protection system hidden failure. This includes the accurate calculation of the probability of hidden failure as it will provide significant impinge on the findings of the probability of system cascading collapse. The probability of a system cascading collapse is then used to identify the initial tripping of sensitive transmission lines which will contribute to a critical system cascading collapse. Based on the results obtained from this study, it is important to decide on the accurate value of the hidden failure probability as it will affect the probability of a system cascading collapse.
Abstract: The wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are emerging technology in wireless networking as they can serve large scale high speed internet access. Due to its wireless multi-hop feature, wireless mesh network is prone to suffer from many attacks, such as denial of service attack (DoS). We consider a special case of DoS attack which is selective forwarding attack (a.k.a. gray hole attack). In such attack, a misbehaving mesh router selectively drops the packets it receives rom its predecessor mesh router. It is very hard to detect that packet loss is due to medium access collision, bad channel quality or because of selective forwarding attack. In this paper, we present a review of detection algorithms of selective forwarding attack and discuss their advantage & disadvantage. Finally we conclude this paper with open research issues and challenges.
Abstract: Banana is one of the most consumed fruits in the tropics and subtropics. Brazil accounts for about 9% of the world banana production. However, the production losses are as high as 30 to 40% and even much higher in some developing countries. The green banana flour is a complex carbohydrate source, including a high total starch (73.4%), resistant starch (17.5%) with functional properties. Gamma irradiation is considered to be an alternative method for food preservation. It has been performed due to the need of extending the shelf - life of foods, whilst maintaining their safety and avoiding one of the main concerns: the nutrient loss. In this work data about on the effects of ionizing radiation on the physicochemical analysis (carbohydrate, proteins, lipids, alimentary fiber, moistures and ashes) of Brazilian functional products (biscuits and bread) of the green banana pulp are presented. The caloric value was calculated. No significant difference was observed between the samples of irradiated and non – irradiated green banana biscuits with the following determinations: carbohydrates, proteins, alimentary fiber and ashes. Only a small significant difference was found in lipids (macronutrients). The results of physical chemical analysis of the irradiated and non- irradiated green banana bread non- irradiated showed no significant difference with the following determinations: carbohydrates, lipids (macronutrients), moisture, ashes and caloric value. A small difference was found in proteins (macronutrients). Irradiation of functional products (biscuits and bread) with doses of 1 and 3kGy maintained their original macronutrients content, showing good radioresistance.
Abstract: Low frequency power oscillations may be triggered
by many events in the system. Most oscillations are damped by the
system, but undamped oscillations can lead to system collapse.
Oscillations develop as a result of rotor acceleration/deceleration
following a change in active power transfer from a generator. Like
the operations limits, the monitoring of power system oscillating
modes is a relevant aspect of power system operation and control.
Unprevented low-frequency power swings can be cause of cascading
outages that can rapidly extend effect on wide region. On this regard,
a Wide Area Monitoring, Protection and Control Systems
(WAMPCS) help in detecting such phenomena and assess power
system dynamics security. The monitoring of power system
electromechanical oscillations is very important in the frame of
modern power system management and control. In first part, this
paper compares the different technique for identification of power
system oscillations. Second part analyzes possible identification
some power system dynamics behaviors Using Wide Area
Monitoring Systems (WAMS) based on Phasor Measurement Units
(PMUs) and wavelet technique.
Abstract: The authors have been developing several models
based on artificial neural networks, linear regression models, Box-
Jenkins methodology and ARIMA models to predict the time series
of tourism. The time series consist in the “Monthly Number of Guest
Nights in the Hotels" of one region. Several comparisons between the
different type models have been experimented as well as the features
used at the entrance of the models. The Artificial Neural Network
(ANN) models have always had their performance at the top of the
best models. Usually the feed-forward architecture was used due to
their huge application and results. In this paper the author made a
comparison between different architectures of the ANNs using
simply the same input. Therefore, the traditional feed-forward
architecture, the cascade forwards, a recurrent Elman architecture and
a radial based architecture were discussed and compared based on the
task of predicting the mentioned time series.
Abstract: Over last two decades, due to hostilities of environment
over the internet the concerns about confidentiality of information
have increased at phenomenal rate. Therefore to safeguard the information
from attacks, number of data/information hiding methods have
evolved mostly in spatial and transformation domain.In spatial domain
data hiding techniques,the information is embedded directly on
the image plane itself. In transform domain data hiding techniques the
image is first changed from spatial domain to some other domain and
then the secret information is embedded so that the secret information
remains more secure from any attack. Information hiding algorithms
in time domain or spatial domain have high capacity and relatively
lower robustness. In contrast, the algorithms in transform domain,
such as DCT, DWT have certain robustness against some multimedia
processing.In this work the authors propose a novel steganographic
method for hiding information in the transform domain of the gray
scale image.The proposed approach works by converting the gray
level image in transform domain using discrete integer wavelet
technique through lifting scheme.This approach performs a 2-D
lifting wavelet decomposition through Haar lifted wavelet of the cover
image and computes the approximation coefficients matrix CA and
detail coefficients matrices CH, CV, and CD.Next step is to apply the
PMM technique in those coefficients to form the stego image. The
aim of this paper is to propose a high-capacity image steganography
technique that uses pixel mapping method in integer wavelet domain
with acceptable levels of imperceptibility and distortion in the cover
image and high level of overall security. This solution is independent
of the nature of the data to be hidden and produces a stego image
with minimum degradation.
Abstract: A 3.5-bit stage of the CMOS pipelined ADC is proposed. In this report, the main part of 3.5-bit stage ADC is introduced. How the MDAC, comparator and encoder worked and designed are shown in details. Besides, an OTA which is used in fully differential pipelined ADC was described. Using gain-boost architecture with differential amplifier, this OTA achieve high-gain and high-speed. This design was using CMOS 0.18um process and simulation in Cadence. The result of the simulation shows that the OTA has a gain up to 80dB, the unity gain bandwidth of about 1.138GHz with 2pF load.
Abstract: This paper focuses on issues of engagement by staff in professional development related to the delivery of e-learning. The paper reports on findings drawn from a New Zealand research project which is producing a sector-wide framework for professional development in tertiary e-learning. The research findings indicate that staff engaged in e-learning in tertiary institutions is not making the most effective use of the professional development opportunities available to them; rather they seem to gain their knowledge and support from a variety of informal means. This is despite an emphasis on the provision of professional development opportunities by both Government Policies and Institutions themselves. The conclusion drawn from the findings is that institutional approaches to professional development for e-learning do not yet fully reflect the demands and constraints that working in a digital context impose.
Abstract: The objective of this project is to produce computer
assisted instruction(CAI) for welding and brazing in order to
determine the efficiency of the instruction package and the study
accomplishment of learner by studying through computer assisted
instruction for welding and brazing it was examined through the
target group surveyed from the 30 students studying in the two year
of 5-year-academic program, department of production technology
education, faculty of industrial education and technology, king
mongkut-s university of technology thonburi. The result of the
research indicated that the media evaluated by experts and subject
matter quality evaluation of computer assisted instruction for welding
and brazing was in line for the good criterion. The mean of score
evaluated before the study, during the study and after the study was
34.58, 83.33 and 83.43, respectively. The efficiency of the lesson was
83.33/83.43 which was higher than the expected value, 80/80. The
study accomplishment of the learner, who utilizes computer assisted
instruction for welding and brazing as a media, was higher and equal
to the significance statistical level of 95%. The value was 1.669
which was equal to 35.36>1.669. It could be summarized that
computer assisted instruction for welding and brazing was the
efficient media to use for studying and teaching.
Abstract: Air quality in Setapak district of Kuala Lumpur was
studied by analysing the rainwater chemical composition using ion
chromatography method. Twelve sampling sites were selected and
120 rainwater samples were collected in the period of 10 weeks. The
results of this study were compared to the earlier published data and
the evaluation showed that the NO3
- ion concentration increased from
0.41 to 3.32 ppm, while SO4
2- ion concentration increased from 0.39
to 3.26 ppm over the past two decades that is mostly due to rapid
urban development of the city. However, it was found that the
chemical composition for both residential and industrial areas does
not have significant difference. Most of the rainwater samples
showed alkaline pH (pH > 5.6). The possible factors for such alkaline
pH in rainwater samples are assumed to be the marine sources,
biomass burning and alkaline character of soil particles.
Abstract: Cognitive Dissonance can be conceived both as a concept related to the tendency to avoid internal contradictions in certain situations, and as a higher order theory about information processing in the human mind. In the last decades, this last sense has been strongly surpassed by the former, as nearly all experiment on the matter discuss cognitive dissonance as an output of motivational contradictions. In that sense, the question remains: is cognitive dissonance a process intrinsically associated with the way that the mind processes information, or is it caused by such specific contradictions? Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive dissonance in the absence of rewards or any mechanisms to manipulate motivation. Method: To solve this question, we introduce a new task, the hypothetical social arrays paradigm, which was applied to 50 undergraduate students. Results: Our findings support the perspective that the human mind shows a tendency to avoid internal dissonance even when there are no rewards or punishment involved. Moreover, our findings also suggest that this principle works outside the conscious level.
Abstract: Information hiding for authenticating and verifying the content integrity of the multimedia has been exploited extensively in the last decade. We propose the idea of using genetic algorithm and non-deterministic dependence by involving the un-watermarkable coefficients for digital image authentication. Genetic algorithm is used to intelligently select coefficients for watermarking in a DCT based image authentication scheme, which implicitly watermark all the un-watermarkable coefficients also, in order to thwart different attacks. Experimental results show that such intelligent selection results in improvement of imperceptibility of the watermarked image, and implicit watermarking of all the coefficients improves security against attacks such as cover-up, vector quantization and transplantation.
Abstract: The two significant overvoltages in power system,
switching overvoltage and lightning overvoltage, are investigated in
this paper. Firstly, the effect of various power system parameters on
Line Energization overvoltages is evaluated by simulation in ATP.
The dominant parameters include line parameters; short-circuit
impedance and circuit breaker parameters. Solutions to reduce
switching overvoltages are reviewed and controlled closing using
switchsync controllers is proposed as proper method.
This paper also investigates lightning overvoltages in the
overhead-cable transition. Simulations are performed in
PSCAD/EMTDC. Surge arresters are applied in both ends of cable to
fulfill the insulation coordination. The maximum amplitude of
overvoltages inside the cable is surveyed which should be of great
concerns in insulation coordination studies.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a methodology for finding
authoritative researchers by analyzing academic Web sites. We show
a case study in which we concentrate on a set of Czech computer
science departments- Web sites. We analyze the relations between
them via hyperlinks and find the most important ones using several
common ranking algorithms. We then examine the contents of the
research papers present on these sites and determine the most
authoritative Czech authors.
Abstract: The research titled “Developing of Thai Classical Music Ensemble in Rattanakosin Period" aimed 1) to study the history of Thai Classical Music Ensemble in Rattanakosin Period and 2) to analyze changing in each period of Rattanakosin Era. This is the historical and documentary research. The data was collected by in-depth interview those musicians, and academic music experts and field study. The focus group discussion was conducted to analyze and conclude the findings. The research found that the history of Thai Classical Music Ensemble in Rattanakosin Period derived from the Ayutthaya period. Thai classical music ensemble consisted of “Wong Pipat", “Wong Mahori", “Wong Kreang Sai". “Wong Kubmai", “Wong Krongkak", “Brass Band", and “Kan Band" which were used to ceremony, ritual, drama, performs and entertainment. Changed of the Thai music in the early Rattanakosin Period were passed from the Ayutthaya Period and the influence of the western civilization. New Band formed in Thai Music were “Orchestra" and “Contemporary Band". The role of Thai music was changed from the ceremonial rituals to entertainment. Development of the Thai music during the reign of King Rama 1 to King Rama 7, was improved from the court. But after the revolution, the musical patronage of the court was maintained by the Government. Thai Classical Music Ensemble were performed to be standard pattern.
Abstract: In this paper we canvass three case studies of unique
research partnerships between universities and schools in the wider
community. In doing so, we consider those areas of indeterminate
zones of professional practice explored by academics in their
research activities within the wider community. We discuss three
cases: an artist-in-residence program designed to engage primary
school children with new understandings about local Indigenous
Australian issues in their pedagogical and physical landscapes; an
assessment of pedagogical concerns in relation to the use of physical
space in classrooms; and the pedagogical underpinnings of a
costumed museum school program. In doing so, we engage issues of
research as playing an integral part in the development,
implementation and maintenance of academic engagements with
wider community issues.
Abstract: In this paper we intend to ascertain the state of the art on multifingered end-effectors, also known as robotic hands or dexterous robot hands, and propose an experimental setup for an innovative task based design approach, involving cutting edge technologies in motion capture. After an initial description of the capabilities and complexity of a human hand when grasping objects, in order to point out the importance of replicating it, we analyze the mechanical and kinematical structure of some important works carried out all around the world in the last three decades and also review the actuators and sensing technologies used. Finally we describe a new design philosophy proposing an experimental setup for the first stage using recent developments in human body motion capture systems that might lead to lighter and always more dexterous robotic hands.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between satisfaction with major and career decision efficacy and career attitude maturity of engineering college students by performing correlation analysis. Gender differences in between satisfaction with major and career decision efficacy and career attitude maturity were also examined by T-test. The results T-test revealed gender differences in only career decision efficacy. Male Students scored significantly higher than did female students on career decision efficacy and satisfaction with major. The results of correlation analysis showed a) satisfaction with major were significantly associated with career decision efficacy, b) satisfaction with major were significantly associated with career attitude maturity, and c) career decision efficacy were significantly associated with career attitude maturity. As a result,we found the importance of satisfaction in engineering college students- major studies when deciding their career.
Abstract: During last decades is widely discussed the
international harmonization of financial reporting. This
harmonization is also affected by national tax systems in analyzed
countries. This paper provides some evidence on current national tax
systems in selected countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The
linkage of accounting profit as a tax base might decrease the
administrative burden for majority of SMEs, which are the most
important engine of each national economy.
Abstract: In the last decade digital watermarking procedures have
become increasingly applied to implement the copyright protection
of multimedia digital contents distributed on the Internet. To this
end, it is worth noting that a lot of watermarking procedures
for images and videos proposed in literature are based on spread
spectrum techniques. However, some scepticism about the robustness
and security of such watermarking procedures has arisen because
of some documented attacks which claim to render the inserted
watermarks undetectable. On the other hand, web content providers
wish to exploit watermarking procedures characterized by flexible and
efficient implementations and which can be easily integrated in their
existing web services frameworks or platforms. This paper presents
how a simple spread spectrum watermarking procedure for MPEG-2
videos can be modified to be exploited in web contexts. To this end,
the proposed procedure has been made secure and robust against some
well-known and dangerous attacks. Furthermore, its basic scheme
has been optimized by making the insertion procedure adaptive with
respect to the terminals used to open the videos and the network transactions
carried out to deliver them to buyers. Finally, two different
implementations of the procedure have been developed: the former
is a high performance parallel implementation, whereas the latter is
a portable Java and XML based implementation. Thus, the paper
demonstrates that a simple spread spectrum watermarking procedure,
with limited and appropriate modifications to the embedding scheme,
can still represent a valid alternative to many other well-known and
more recent watermarking procedures proposed in literature.